Wall-clock



0. OHLSON.

WALL CLOCK..

APPLICATION FILED AuG.16-, 1917.

11,379,71 3. Pat-@med May 31,1921.

UNITED i STATES EATEN'r OFFICE.

OLOF OHLSON, 0F NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNOR TO WALTHAM .WATCH COMPANY, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F T'IASSACHU- SETTS.

W'ALL- CLOCK.

To allai/tom t 'may concer/n: Y

Be it known that I, OLor OHLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetta'have invented new and useful Improvements in Wall-Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to time pieces or clocks and has for its object to provide, first, the combination of aV frame mounting a dial, and a movement, the frame and movement being of such proportionsand so arranged as to permit of the time piece b eing hung upon or placed against a wall in a manner similar to that in which a picture or-mii'ror is commonly placed or hung; and second, to provide means for winding, and setting the hands of, a time piece so made. The novel features and improvements in which the invention particularly consists appear from the following description in detail of one embodiment of my invention, in connection with the drawings which illustrate the described embodiment. In the drawings, i

,Figure 1 is a front elevation of a clock containing the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail view in cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 of the winding and setting device which forms a part of the invention.

Y Fig. 4 is av view of the same device or mechanism showing the parts thereof in the position assumed when the clock is being wound.

Fig. is a similar view of the same mechanism showing the parts in the position wherein they are placed for setting the hands of the clock. Y Y Fig; 6 is a cross section on line 6--6 of Fig. 4. a

Fig. 7 is a sectionalview in detail of the holding member or clutch which coperates with the winding and setting stem for holding the same in the different positions which are taken for winding and for setting, respectively.

The combination includes a'frame 11 in which is mounted a `face or dial 12, the Vlatter being visible at the f ront of the frame and being preferably designed lso as to ht the rectangular space outlined by the frame. This is the preferred feature of ornamental Specification of Letters Patent. Patgniged luay' 31, 1921.V Application filed August 16, V1917'. Serial No. 186,492. Y

design, but may be modified without de-v parting from the invention; and so far as the latteris concerned the frame may be of any shape or outline and thev dial 'may vof any corresponding outline,or may be circular Vwithout regard to the particular shape of the frame, according .to the coinmon practice` in. clock making. The case inclosing the movement or time mechanism is shown at 13 in Fig. 12. Such movement and the inclosing case are of relatively very smalldimensions both diametrically 'as well as axially, that is, from front to rear7 .in proportion to the dimensions of the frame, wherebyl the movement and its inclosing case project only a very slight extent, or not at all, from the plane of Ithe back of the frame. rThis arrangement and theseproportions enable the clock as whole to be hung upon a wall in the same manner Lthat a frame picture or mirror is ordinarily hung, Vor may be otherwise placedv flat or nearly fiat against a wall and eithersecured to the wall or permitted to lean against the same. rlhe movement itself maybe any standard watch or clock movementV having an escape mechanism7 such as the familiar lever escapement, which will operate correctly `regardless of theV position in which the movement is placed. l have used" for this purpose a standard eight-day springdriven lever escapement watch movement, and may employ any other equivalent or similar movement, wherefore I have'deemed it unnecessary to illustrate' the movement in detail. That staff ofthe movement which ordinarily `drives the hands' is carried through the, center of the dial andupon it is mounted the minute hand 14 and the hour- 1 hand 15, in the usual manner. y y

Another part of the invention consists in winding and setting means` for the clock movement designed and adapted to be used in connection therewith `andl with a frame which is materiallywider Athan the movement and is placed close to a wall. This winding and setting means is shown in Fig. 2 in approximately the correct proportions and preferred relation which it bearsto the movement and the frame,f and in Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive it is shown in detail onan enlarged scale. The main parts of this mechanism comprise a stein 16 vand. a setting crown 17, the stem being mounted at its outer end in a bracket 18 on the trame in Y which it is both rotatable ,fand movable axially, and its inner end extends into the case 13 and is engaged with the winding and hand setting mechanisms with which the movement is provided. The last mentioned mechanisms are or may be the same as any of the mechanisms forthis purpose commonly used in watch movements and similar timepieces, and are therefore not shown. It is sutlicient for a complete understanding of this `invention to state that when the stem is displaced axially in one direction it is connected to the hand setting mechanism and may be operated by rotation of the crown 17 to set the hands, while when displaced in the opposite direction it is coupled to the windingmechanism and may be similarly operated to wind up the main spring of the timepiece. The crown is engaged with the stem in a manner permitting axial movement and is arranged at the outer side of the bracket', that is, the side toward the adjacent edge of the frame, so that it may be displaced beyond the periphery of the trame for either winding or setting, and when not being operated it may be placed within such periphery and so concealed from sight, since thebracket is located tar enough inward from the nearest part of said periphery to permit placement of the crown in this position.l F or the purposes ot this description it will be assumed that displacement of the stem outward from the movement puts it in condition tor setting the hands, and displacement toward the movement puts it in the condition itorwinding; this assumption being made without intent to limit the invention or to exclude from the scope of the protection herein claimed a combination in which the reverse condition is found, that is, one in which setting is accomplished by pushing the stem inward and winding by pulling it outward.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 7 it will be seen that thecrown 17 is iixed upon the outer end oit a sleeve 19 which is slidable, both axially and rotatably upon an interior sleeve 2Q, which latter is fixed in the bracket 18 and projects from such bracket toward the outer boundary ot the frame. The bracket has abase iange 21 which issecured by screws 22 or other means suitable for the purpose, to the frame. The stem 16 passes through the inner sleeve 20 and has a threaded extension 23 on its end, upon which is fixed a non-circular head 24. The latter has external ribs 25 which" are vcontained in complemental longitudinally extending grooves 26 in the interior of the outer sleeve 19. Conveniently, and preterably, the head 24 is an ordinary hexagonal nut, the corners of which form the ribs, while the grooves 26 in the sleeve 19 are formed and spaced to lit these corners. This permits the crown to be moved in and out Vwhile always being connected to the stem so as to transmit rotation thereto., On the inner end of the sleeve is an interior lip 192L arranged to engage the head 24 when the crown is pulled out, whereby both to enable movement ot the stem into setting position by the crown, and to prevent separation of the crown altogether from the stem.

The stem is grooved at one part so as to :torm a conical or tapered surface 27 adjoining an abrupt shoulder 28, and an oppositely tapered portion 29 adjoining an annular recess 80. rlhese beveled portions 27 and 29 are segments of cones which are set base to base. Vith these cone segments cooperates a clutch or holder 81, shown in detailin F ig. 7, and'pre'ferably formed as a sleeve ot elastic metal divided by longitudinal cuts 32 into a plurality of spring tongues, the outer ends of which are bent toward the axis ot the sleeve so as to form gripping jaws 33. The opposite end ot the clutch sleeve is provided with a lip 35 which is confined between a rib 36 and a flange 37 on a holding sleeve 38, which latter is externally'threaded so as to lit internal screw threads in the sleeve 20, and is provided with slots) to receive a screw-drivervor other tool used lor screwing it in place.

From the foregoing description the mode of use of the device will be readily apparent. The ends ot the `clutch `jaws 33 cooperating either with the cone segment 29 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or with the conesegment 27 as shown in Fig. 5, hold the stem in either the winding position or the hand-setting position. `With the steinV in either of these positions the crown can be pulled out beyond the edge of the frame, as shown by Figs. 4 and 5, and can be rolled between the thumb and nger of a persons hand so as to rotate the stem and either wind the clock spring or set the hands. When not being used for either purpose the crown is pushed in as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, when it lies behind the edge of the frame and is concealed from the view of one in front of the clock. ,llhen in the latter position the crown lies so close to the tramevthat it can not be manipulated, this relation being required in order that the clock may be placed against a wall in the manner already described.

Alllhat l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. A wall clock comprising a trame, a dial mounted in said frame,l a time movement mounted on the back of theirame, a winding stem projecting laterally from said movement toward one edge ot the frame, and a crown on said stem mounted close to the rear plane of the frame normally within the adjacent edge thereof and having asliding 'connection with the stem whereby it may be placed outside of such edge for manipulation.

2. A wall clock comprising a frame, a dial mounted in said frame, a time movement mounted on the back of the frame, a ,windj ing and setting stem projecting laterally from said movement toward an edge of the frame and being displaceable endwise from position Jfor winding to a dillferent position ior setting, and vice versa, yieldable means arranged to hold said stem in either position, and a crown mounted on said stem in rotation transmitting engagement therewith, and being also shiftable endwise thereon; the outer termination of the stem being within the edge of the frame toward which it projects at a position permitting the crown to be moved beyond said edge for winding or setting, and to be placed at other times within suoli edge, whereby it is hidden by the frame.

3. A wall clock comprising 'a frame, a dial mounted in said frame, a time movement mounted on the back of the frame, awinding and setting stem projecting laterally from said movement toward an edge of the frame to a termination short of such edge and being displaceable endwise from position for winding to a different position for setting, and vice versa, yieldable means arranged to hold said stem in either position, a crown mounted on said stem in rotationtransmitting and sliding; engagement therewith, being therebyy movable across said edge, and complemental stops on the crown and stem limiting the relative endwise movement of the crown and enabling force applied axially to the latter to displace the stem from either of its positions to the other.

4. A wall clock comprising a frame, a dial mounted therein, a time movement mounted on the back of the frame entirely vwithin the periphery of the latter, a bracket mounted on the back of the frame near one edge thereof, a winding stem extending from cessible position for winding.

5. A clock comprising a frame, a clock movement smaller than the frame mounted thereon, a winding and setting stem passing from said movement toward an edge of the frame, a bracket secured to the frame supporting and guiding said stem, the stem being movable axially into either ofv two positions for respectively winding,-and setting the hands of the movement, a clutch mounted on said bracket coperatin'g with the stem for holding the same in either position and yieldingly resisting displacement therefrom, and a crown mounted on said stem in Vrotation-transmitting connection therewith, being normally within the perimeter of the frame, but movable lengthwise of the stem outside of such perimeter for manipulation.

6. A winding and setting mechanism for timepieces comprising in combination with a frame, a bracket on the frame, an axially displaceable rotatable winding and setting stem passing through said bracket and supported thereby, a setting crown and combined sleeve having provision for axial movement relatively to said stem, a head on said stem engaged with said sleeve so as to prevent relative rotation between the two but to permit relative longitudinal movement of the crown in addition to the movement necessary to displace the stem axially, and means for retaining said stem in either vof two positions axially displaced from one another.

7. A clock comprising a frame, a dial inclosed by said frame, a clock movement centrally mounted on the back of the frame and having a diameter materially less than the width of the `frame, a winding and setting stem projecting from the movement toward an edge of the frame but terminating short thereof, a non-circular head secured to the stem, a sleeve complemental internally to the exterior of the head, whereby it is prevented from rotating about the head but is enabled to slide lengthwise thereon, a crown on the outer end of said sleeve, and

an interior lip on the inner end'of the sleeve adapted to engage the head when the crown is moved outward; the crown being movable to a position back of the :trame within the neareredge thereof, and the sleeve being longer than the distance of the head from said edge, whereby the crown may be moved outward into a position accessible for manipulation.

In testimony whereof I have aliixed my signature.

OLOF OHLSON. 

